AIBU to think the NHS is bloody brilliant sometimes?

[BarbaraVineFan]

I crushed my finger on Tuesday in a silly accident. Popped a plaster on and hoped for the best, but by yesterday evening it bore a strong resemblance to ET’s finger so I thought I’d better get it checked out. Quick trip to the pharmacy, they advised 111. Called 111 this morning, got through almost straight away, was sent to urgent care.

Went to urgent care this morning and waited about an hour. While I was waiting a chap came round with a trolley giving out free tea, coffee and biscuits. Brilliant! Then i was seen by a lovely specialist nurse who checked for tendon and nerve damage and said i needed an X ray to check for fractures. Waited about 5 mins for the X ray, the radiographer sent the images back to the nurse and I was seen again within 5-10 mins to be told I had a fractured bone in my finger. She put a splint and dressing on and sent me on my way with another splint, some gauze and tape for when I need to change the dressing. At all times, everyone was kind, patient and explained everything to me, I didn’t feel rushed in any way and came out about 2 hours after I went in.

And ALL FOR FREE (I know, I know, it’s not really free, but still!). It just made me think how lucky I am not to live in eg the USA, where a minor injury like this would probably cost me thousands of dollars. Thank you, NHS!

Yes very often. It's crap. Everything the NHS does you can get done in Germany and the Netherlands.

I never had much to do with the NHS other than the routine screening and innoculation type things, until two years ago when one of those routine screenings flagged up cancer, and my treatment has been absolutely amazing - I cannot fault it. I know there are many things wrong, but there's an awful lot right about the NHS.

Yes, I seemed to have fought off the infection after about a week, the actual bite still looks nasty but the swelling has gone down so I think it is OK, kept taking the anti histamines and using savlon cream on the actual bite plus cold compresses to help reduce the swelling. I have had really bad reactions in the past before you were offered these options, which apparently are just a waste of time.

I've never had a bad experience during my stays in hospital. Not perfect but nothing to complain about either. Food was ok too.
Our gp surgery is much improved since they bought in the booking appointment online. I seems to be working well.

And you have extrapolated from your poor experience that the NHS is consistently crap

It isn’t 🤷‍♀️

So it didn’t need antibiotics and certainly not steroids

On all the data and evidence it is. Very much so.

The NHS nearly killed me and both of my babies so excuse me if I don’t join in with the NHS appreciation

Fractured a bone in my foot this week, care could not have been better.

“All the data and evidence”

😆

I remember nursing staff ignoring elderly nan during a shift change.

Remember hearing on radio how someone had a persistent year long back issue, NHS just said "it will sort itself out". Man goes private, scanned diagnosed and treated on the same day.

Friend had surgery they needed to do. Scans and surgery on ankle. They got all it all done privately with work medical insurance and it was so much quicker.

Look at international comparisons and studies and then come back to me

Is that all the data and evidence you refer to?

Read my previous post sweetie

And every single bit of data and evidence proves the NHS is crap?

Oh dear 😆

yes yes all the data and all the evidence confirms the nhs is crap.

😊

Data shows it lags in quality compared to many other healthcare systems

all the data?

It does more with less. It has fewer doctors and nurses and lower health spending per person. The King’s Fund points out that there is no country that is without problems and there would be significant costs to change systems

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/reports/nhs-compare-health-care-systems-other-countries

I've had some terrible experiences, but I have just been referred down the 2 week cancer pathway and my experience has been incredible. Seen by GP, bloods before I left the surgery. Call from the hospital next day, CT that week and endoscopy the following week. Our reorganized dedicated CT unit is now doing 140 patients a day, endoscopy does 50. The staff were all efficient, kind and I can't fault the service I have had thus far from the NHS. Now just have my fingers crossed for the outcome.

I went to my opticians because I had intermittent flashes in one eye. He phoned the Sheffield Hallam Eye Department. They said send her up here now. I went ( 20 mins walk) and was seen immediately by the Consultant. He said ' probably just an ageing thing BUT here is my home phone number if you have a dark patch coming down in your eye phone me immediately day or night and I will meet you at the hospital! Last year my sister found a lump in her breast. Got an appointment with her GP that afternoon, was admitted to Wythenshaw Hospital 2 days later and operated on. Now fine. Pretty amazing NHS FREE service. As mentioned on another thread 2 cousins have returned to the UK from the US because they are terrified they'll not be able to afford treatment as they get older.

Of course there are awful aspects (all the recent maternity reviews) but there are also things are great. I had a itching bleeding mole. Called our community integrated service and was seen within 2 hours. The nurse practitioner could prescribe steroid cream to stop the itching and could also make a referral to dermatology. 4 days later I was contacted by dermatology with an appointment date (12 days later). They gave me a day surgery appointment within 4 weeks.

Yes we are very lucky. My ex’s father had a stent abroad and ended up having a massive stroke and going into a coma for two years. I held a birthday party for dad six weeks later to have a celebration (not a funeral!) with his friends.

It’s true that chronic Musculoskeletal is a mess if you don’t go private. I sprained my toes and once a fracture had been excluded, I wasn’t allowed further imaging until I attended an MSK pool, triaged by physios. It was a 3 month wait for this, so I went and saw an orthotist. Got new insoles and was fine.

3 months is a long wait for the right treatment.